Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins pleaded not guilty to federal extortion charges during his arraignment Thursday afternoon in Boston federal court.
Tompkins was arrested earlier this month in Florida. He is accused of extorting an executive at a cannabis company after it had opened a retail dispensary in Boston. Tompkins allegedly coerced the executive to sell him $50,000 worth in stock before the company went public, and then demanded he be refunded after the stock value decreased.
Tompkins was released on personal recognizance. His next court date is set for Oct. 16. If convicted, Tompkins could face 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the two counts against him.
After his arraignment, Tompkins stood silently while his lawyer, Martin Weinberg, addressed reporters outside of Moakley Courthouse.
"It is my expectation, strong expectation, that a year or so from now we'll be walking out that door and then Mr. Tompkins will be found not guilty," Weinberg said.
Weinberg also represented Karen Read, who was found not guilty earlier this year during her high-profile murder trial.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.